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UPDATE: December 30, 2014

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can play in Detroit’s playoff game after his one-game NFL suspension was reduced to a $70,000 fine.

Hearing officer Ted Cottrell heard Suh’s expedited appeal Tuesday and ruled that Suh can play Sunday at Dallas but must pay the fine.

Suh originally was suspended for stepping on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ left leg twice last Sunday in a loss to Green Bay for the NFC North title. He stepped on Rodgers once with each foot, which violated unnecessary roughness rules, according to the league.

But Cottrell reduced the punishment.

Cottrell is jointly appointed by the NFL and the players’ union.

Original Story:

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be suspended for the team’s wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys next weekend after he was caught Sunday stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Suh “unnecessarily stepped on [the] opponent’s unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself,” according to a statement released by the NFL.

Suh is appealing the suspension, and his appeal will be heard by Ted Cottrell, reports ESPN.

If Suh’s appeal is denied, Detroit would be without both of its first-round defensive tackle selections. Coach Jim Caldwell said Monday it would take “a miracle” for defensive tackle Nick Fairley to play against the Cowboys. Fairley has not played or practiced since injuring his knee against Atlanta in Week 8.

If neither Suh nor Fairley is available, the Lions likely would start C.J. Mosley and Andre Fluellen or Jason Jones at the defensive tackle spots.

This isn’t the first time Suh has had issues with Green Bay. He was suspended for two games in 2011 after stomping on the arm of then-Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith. Suh was also fined $100,000 last season for an illegal low block on Minnesota center John Sullivan.

He has been fined for roughing up Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton, Chicago’s Jay Cutler, then- Houston quarterback Matt Schaub and then-Cleveland quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Brandon Weeden.

If Suh is not allowed to play in Sunday’s game and the Lions lose, it could be the end of the defensive star’s time in Detroit, as he is set to become a free agent at season’s end.

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